Best Hotels & Lodges

Having survived decades of turmoil and emerged on the other side, Gorongosa National Park is a champion for bringing wild spaces and species back from the brink. Part of this ongoing transformation is the development of a handful of properties, including the feather-light Chicari Camp. Built anew every season near a pan of the same name, Chicari is perfectly positioned to watch animals of every size and shape arrive for a drink at the water. The tents are canvas and classic with a superb view and the whole camp is wonderfully eco-conscious, which only makes you appreciate the hard-won setting even more.

Morukuru River House, one of three exclusive-use lodges in the Morukuru collection, lies apart from its counterparts in a private area within the large Madikwe Game Reserve. It has its own distinctive style (read glamorous, chic and super-comfortable), own safari vehicles, staff and attractions. River House lies on the banks of the Marico River, and the sounds of the water bubbling past are soporific – you'll sleep like a baby. This is Big Five country, and your private ranger knows the bushveld and its occupants like the back of his hand.

With its Arab-Norman cathedrals and raucous street markets, Palermo has an infectious, sun-soaked energy. And right in the middle of it all, on the beautiful Via Roma, stands the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes, a palazzo with a past to rival the city. Built in 1874 as the private residence of the Ingham-Whitaker family — English Marsala merchants who all but ran Sicily — it was transformed into a hotel in 1907 by Art Nouveau architect Ernesto Basile. Wagner stayed to finish Parsifal, Poet Raymond Roussel checked in and never left, and the mirrors, marble and sweeping staircases have seen it all.

Designed by architect Fumihiko Sano, this hotel blends the timeless beauty of traditional Japanese architecture with modern design. The design, where history and contemporary sensibilities resonate, provides guests with a high-quality stay and a deeply moving experience.

The guest rooms, where the warmth of natural wood harmonizes with modern design, feature art and interiors that evoke a sense of Japanese aesthetics. You can spend a relaxing time in a space that is simple yet imbued with the beauty of Japanese style .

Wide, acacia-dotted Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in the heart of northern Kenya is a hauntingly beautiful place. So it's no wonder that this charismatic wilderness is home to Sirikoi, a family-run, award-winning lodge that's dedicated to its environment, the people who live here and those who visit it. Come to Lewa to see abundant wildlife – including endangered species such as black and white rhino and Grevy’s zebra – and stay in true colonial comfort with world-class fine dining, spacious and homely accommodation and congenial staff. The area is malaria free and has a beautiful spring-like climate almost all year.

A vlei is a natural pool of water, and this small and intimate lodge located centrally in the Phinda Private Game Reserve stands on the edge of a wetland. Nearby is a sand forest, an increasingly rare ecosystem. Animal viewing is constant, birding is varied and rewarding (look out for the pretty narina trogon), and the stilted lodge provides pampering comfort, good food, smiley staff, knowledgeable guides and lush accommodation. The wildlife ranges from the largest to the smallest, but the star of the show is definitely cheetah, which were reintroduced to the reserve after an absence of 50-odd years.

This permanent tented lodge offers wonderful safari isolation from a private concession. Bush simplicity is incorporated into the style of the camp, creating a rustic charm. The open air thatched structures offer inspiring views of Amboseli Plains, Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro. However, the draw card is not the big 5 but rather a unique experience away from the crowds.

Hotel Masseria San Domenico retains all the architectural features of an ancient fortified farmhouse, with large spaces featuring star-shaped vaults. The main core of Masseria San Domenico dates back to the 15th century and consists of a watchtower belonging to the Knights of Malta. Guests have access to a spectacular saltwater swimming pool surrounded by natural rocks, a modern thalassotherapy center, two tennis courts, and an 18-hole golf course.

The Okavango Delta is close to our hearts – a geologically unusual depression of desert that traps run-off water from mountains nearly 1000 kilometres away, thanks to three well-placed fault lines. Those fissures are the difference between a vast wetland that sustains a bounty of wildlife, and a muddy seep. Mma Dinare (mother buffalo) is a new jewel of a lodge at the south-east edge of the delta, overlooking the Gomoti River and its sprawl of wildlife-filled floodplains. Set within a private concession of 27000-plus hectares, there's an immense wilderness that's just waiting for you to explore its treasures.